-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- America 's economy has the potential to transform lives like no other force on Earth , but too often in recent years we have seen Washington act as an anchor . And while CEOs and presidents may generate the business headlines , an over-involved federal government hurts employees and those looking for jobs across the entire spectrum .

As someone who grew up in poverty , watching his single mother work 16-hour days to provide as much as she possibly could for us , I have lived the power of the American Dream .

With help from my mom and my mentor , I learned that I did n't have to be an entertainer or an athlete to achieve my goals ; I could think my way out of poverty . I realized the power of education , and the incredible opportunities provided by free markets .

Sen. Cory Booker : Finishing our nation 's unfinished business

My fear is that too many folks these days are n't given the chance to see the greatness that resides within them . Over the past 50 years , we 've seen the War on Poverty struggle in its core mission -- to help lift folks up . It 's time for a change , so I have introduced my Opportunity Agenda .

A significant part of my Opportunity Agenda is focused on job-training efforts . There are 4 million open jobs across the country right now -- jobs that are unfilled because of a skills gap in the work force . This in spite of the fact there are 35 federal work-force development programs .

My SKILLS Act , which the House has already passed thanks to the efforts of Rep. Virginia Foxx , R-North Carolina , would cut through the bureaucratic maze and mountains of red tape that hinder these programs . We 'll create one Workforce Investment Fund , cutting waste and duplication out while ensuring more dollars are used for their actual purpose -- job training . President Barack Obama signaled that Vice President Joe Biden would be looking at job-training programs this year -- I eagerly await their call to discuss my proposal .

I am also working on a proposal to create opportunity zones across America to tie some of the tax dollars coming out of our low-income communities to the community itself in order to rebuild infrastructure and lift those areas up . In my time on county council in Charleston County , this concept was referred to as Tax Increment Financing -LRB- TIF -RRB- districts , and I see great potential in this concept at the federal level .

It is not enough to simply rebuild , or as some would call it gentrify , our tougher neighborhoods -- we have to provide the opportunity to the folks living there already to take part in a brighter future . Population shifting is n't fixing the problem , it is simply moving it somewhere else .

So instead of overtaxing and overregulating , I see a future where the government cuts out waste and duplication , and gives all Americans the chance to realize their full potential . As I travel throughout South Carolina , be it speaking with a local chamber of commerce , or a group of pastors , or working at a burrito store for a morning -LRB- verdict : my own skills with a broom could stand some polishing -RRB- , my constituents are very clear : They do n't want a handout , just a hand up .

It is n't the federal government 's responsibility to guarantee outcomes . It is , however , our responsibility to make sure that a better future is possible if people want it . Opportunity knocks for all of us at some point . My hope is that Washington does n't get in the way of folks answering .

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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sen. Tim Scott .

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Sen. Tim Scott : The War on Poverty has struggled to fulfill its mission

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Scott is working on a proposal to create opportunity zones across America

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Scott : Instead of overregulating , government should cut out waste , duplication

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Scott : It is n't the federal government 's responsibility to guarantee outcomes